Turban-charged with a new spin

It was the series that stunned the cricketing world, and Harbhajan Singh was the spinner who stopped the Australians.

As much as V. V. S. Laxman's 281 reversed a seemingly inevitable defeat in the second Test into a staggering win, the baffling work of India's feisty turban-wearing off spinner across those three Tests in 2001 was the main cause of Australia's last series defeat.

In his comeback after correctional work on his action, the then 20-year-old Harbhajan bedevilled the Australians with 32 wickets at just 17 runs each - the fourth-best haul from a three-match series in Test history. After a modest 4-132 when India lost in Mumbai by 10 wickets, Harbhajan claimed 7-123 and 6-73 in Kolkata, then 7-133 and 8-84 in Chepauk to finish off the Australians.

Adam Gilchrist made 122 in his only innings of the first Test, then made 0, 0, 1 and 1, with Harbhajan dismissing him four times overall. More glaring were Ricky Ponting's failures of 0, 6, 0, 0, and 11. Harbhajan took him every time, with his change of pace, and therefore his length, imperceptible to the Tasmanian, as it was with Gilchrist.

The man dubbed "The Turbanator" is back and is aiming to again be Australia's chief tormentor in the four-Test series that starts tomorrow.

But just as India is striving to forget a past marked by failure away from home, Harbhajan believes his previous work against the Australians should count for little this time around.

"By the grace of God I did so well in the 2001 series, and I was really happy with it," he said yesterday. "But that was different. Playing in Australia is a huge difference. That series is in the past. I don't want to live in that. Now I'm looking forward to what we have to do in this series."

Harbhajan has done his homework on the pitches in Australia, where he toured without playing a Test during India's disastrous 1999-2000 series. "I was talking to Shane Warne. He said if you can bowl good line and length you may be able to get good bounce - not much turn but at least bounce, so you can still do a bit.

"I've heard it will be good to bowl on the fourth and fifth days."

A rarity in India's Test scene as a Pathan, from the country's north, Harbhajan brings more to his side than just deviating cricket balls. He is the life, soul and resident joker of the Indian team, but also a fierce competitor.

"He's a key psychological weapon for us, because he fights on the field," said his captain, Sourav Ganguly.

"He's a 100 per cent guy. He's always hungry for wickets and he's a quality bowler. You always want that sort of a guy in the team."

While Harbhajan entered the 2001 series with just 21 wickets from eight Tests at an average of 38, he now boasts 150 scalps from 35 matches at 27.

"Since he's come back in 2001 against Australia he's looked a different bowler," Ganguly said. "He took eight wickets in a match in Jamaica, he got a five-wicket haul at the Oval, and those wickets had bounce."

On Warne's recommendation, Harbhajan came to Australia last winter seeking surgery for a persistent injury to a finger on his bowling hand, but then opted for other treatments. He took only 2-159 in his only tour match, against Victoria at the MCG, but says his finger is fine.

Harbhajan feels proud to be representing his Sikh religion, though he laughs at the nickname inspired by the associated head covering. "Turbanator is a good name," he says, "as long as you're destroying other teams."